Words

Berkeley / Oakland
May/June 2006

I could see you after midnight,
For what it’s worth.
Or in the early morning
When you finally get off work.
I could find you on the hillside
Sifting dreams
Reading letters you never received.

You are so good
With words
She says to me.
But I am not so good
With meaning, apparently.
I am so good with words
She says to me.
But these words
Cannot keep you, cannot keep.

If I could meet you
To sit with me
In silence.
To understand the beauty in simple things.
If I could somehow share
How to love the longing
I might find meaning in my reach.

I could see you after midnight
Without a word
Taking out the ghost ride
When you finally get off work.
I have seen you in the sunrise
Waking up
Gathering belongings
When we should be making love.
But I see you on the shoreline
Skipping stones
And each bears a wish to be alone.

You are so good
With words
She says to me.
But I am not so good
With meaning
Apparently.
You are so good
With words
She says to me.
But I believe
I’m long since
Out of reach.

I stare out the window and see time
And constance
The sadness in all things.
And it’s beautiful
Though I cannot expect
Anyone to see the same
That’s the madness I keep.

I never meant to be good, only
To understand myself
And why I can’t feel right.
And every well-written word
Eases my unquiet mind
Just confides to realize twisted

You are so good
With words
She says to me
But I am not so good
With staying
In your reach.

You are so good
With words
She says to me
But I am not so good
With love
Apparently.

Leave a Reply